The Lowly Desk Set?

[Wahlnut]

Seems like no one ever talks seriously about Desk Sets. Wahl was one of the most prolific makers of decorative desk sets in their hay-day. Others may have produced more in total numbers, but I would venture to say no one produced a greater variety. AND if you are a desk jockey writer, how better to get the maximum use out of your writing time than to have the desk set at the ready. AND with a 2-pen desk set you get 2 different writing instruments each loaded the way you like (2 different inks, 2 different nibs, etc etc. )

 

I was strolling around tonight, looking for something new to post and to show that might expand the variety of interests in the Wahl-Eversharp brand focus Forum and I decided to snap a few shots of some interesting desk sets for your viewing pleasere (Ihope)

 

Here's a great set on a fantastic piece of marble with an eight day clock. The pens are 3-ring (equal to an oversized pen with #6 nib) the one on the left is a flexible and the one on the right is a stub

 

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/wahlnut/IMG_0668.jpg

 

And here's a shot of a couple of cool sets. The one on the left is a Doric in Green Shell design on a piece of Argentine Onyx. The one on the right is from the desk of an executive of the Major Zipper Company and has a perpetual calendar on it.

 

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/wahlnut/IMG_0667.jpg

 

There are a good number of desk sets in this shot, so look carefully. The ones in the front are in Marble, Alabaster and Onyx marquetry/inlaid and patterned bases.

 

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/wahlnut/IMG_0664.jpg

 

The next photo is not a very good shot, but shows a wide variety of pens and bases:

 

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/wahlnut/IMG_0665.jpg

Do you see the one in gray with the black stripes? Remind you of the green pocket pen David i posted earlier tonight? It should, it was from the same design series...(Oxford and Air Lite) just in the desk pen.

 

Wahl made a lot of Desk sets that you cold order with various mascots on them. Here are a couple...the one on the left has a bronze owl, the one on the right has an English Setter. And that one is an Oxford set.

 

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/wahlnut/IMG_0663.jpg

 

And here is another Skyline set on a great piece of marble! I love the executive Skyline "humidors" their shape and the polished brass base ends! Cool!

 

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/wahlnut/IMG_0662.jpg

 

 

Now you gotta have something to display these things in, right? Here is one case that is from about 1939. It stands about 5 feeet tall. Original Store display cases are a whole other topic but one that is rich with the history of the Wahl brand and how the Wahl Companyy worked with their dealers. All the cases have a brass plate that clearly states the cases remain the property of the Wahl Company!

 

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/wahlnut/IMG_0661.jpg

 

Well, just thought this would be fun to see.

 

Later...

Syd the Wahlnut

Edited December 21, 2006 by Wahlnut

[acfrery]

Simply fantastic!

 

I have been feeling the need of having a nice desk set, and your post has fueled this need.

 

Thanks a lot,

 

Alejandro

[framebaer]

Syd,

Fantastic desk sets!!!!!What's the green pen set in its own box on the middle shelf?

 

That looks like an amazing set, yes?

[dwmatteson]

I just received two Wahl desk sets that I won off eBay. Both needed resaccing, but they're in great condition. I believe that one might be a Skyline (based on what Syd's posted above), and I'm not sure of the other. The "Skyline" is a sweet writer! (Ran out of sacs after the "Skyline" and am waiting for my order to show up to resac the other.)

 

Don M.

[Wahlnut]

Framebaer,

The set on the middle shelf is an Equi-poised Purse Pen in Borneo Pearl.

 

Syd

[southpaw]

WOW!!! Some very nice desk sets. I agree with you about desk sets being very useful. I keep a twin Sheaffer Touchdown set with Triumph nibs on a black onyx base.

[BobR]

Just beautiful! It amazes me to see the variety and beauty of these pieces.

[chud]

Thanks for the photos!

 

One of my new Christmas acquisitions is an old desk pen that used to be my Grandfather's -- it looks almost exactly like the reddish one that's about centered in the fourth picture down, a sort of rusty red with fine black swirls. The base on mine is round, made of light-colored marble. It's a lever-fill that needs a new sac, but the nib looks pretty good (it says "Wahl / 2 / 14K").

 

What can anyone tell me about this pen? Is it hard rubber (it looks like wood, actually)?

 

Thanks!!

-Chris

[penmanila]

droolworthy, as ever! more, more!

[Wahlnut]

The base on mine is round, made of light-colored marble.  It's a lever-fill that needs a new sac, but the nib looks pretty good (it says "Wahl / 2 / 14K").

 

What can anyone tell me about this pen?  Is it hard rubber (it looks like wood, actually)?

 

Thanks!!

-Chris

There are 2 wood-like in appearance pens in the 4th photo. A red and black hard rubber pen called rosewood, by Wahl-Eversharp and a lighter one to the right in that photo that they called Olivewood. Both are indeed hard rubber pens. The Olivewood is pretty rare. The pen has 2 gold bands around the waist of the barrel. These are all good writing pens and the number 2 nib came in lots of varieties to suit the writers taste. Changing the sac is a straight forward procedure. The section is a friction fit. The sac used is a #19. These pens frequently were made with an aluminum inner sleeve that the section fits into. Sometimes the aluminum oxidizes and forms a very tight bond to the section. So be careful when first undoing the section to see what is going on. Glad you were the recipient of the pen. I know it will be well taken care of.

Syd the Wahlnut

Edited December 26, 2006 by Wahlnut

[chud]

Thanks! It's definitely the rosewood that I have. I haven't decided whether or not to try to fix it myself; I haven't dabbled much in repair yet, and I'd hate to break it, so I may send this one off to someone with a bit more experience.

 

Thanks!

[Shari]

I try not to buy desk sets, as I just do not have the space to keep them, but they are getting harder and harder to resist. Here are three I like very much. I'd rather like to get the clock repaired on the large one, but I haven't found a local place to do it. I have another Brazilian Green desk pen that is supposed to go in this set rather than the pen on the right, I think, but this one was in a bit better shape, so I substituted it for display. You can see on the left pen some discoloration near the section that is either deep discoloration or crazing. I haven't looked for the fine lines to tell for sure because it would only depress me to know for certain what I already suspect!

 

http://www.cfa.ilstu.edu/sszeck/pens/wahlduodesk.jpg

http://www.cfa.ilstu.edu/sszeck/pens/wahlsolodesk.jpg

http://www.cfa.ilstu.edu/sszeck/pens/doricdesk.jpg

[DWL]

I want to come and play at your house syd, you've got the best toys!!

[chud]

There are 2 wood-like in appearance pens in the 4th photo. A red and black hard rubber pen called rosewood, by Wahl-Eversharp

Approximately when would this one be dated, would you say?

 

Thanks!

-C

[Wahlnut]

Approximately 1928 through 1930-1. Wahl's first desk sets were in their 1926 catalog, and were one design generation ahead of this set.

 

Syd

[david i]

Weellllll...

 

Here be one ya just don't see every day.

 

Wahl desk pen in "Pacemaker" celluloid- brown, intact, not oranged, yada yada.

 

This one is mine.

 

regards

 

david i

http:///removed.xyz

 

http://www.removed.xyz/penteech/wahlpacemakerdesk.jpg

[SMG]

Here is my lowly RCA Wahl Desk pen.

 

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b319/Ragnarok69/DSC_4851.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b319/Ragnarok69/DSC_4837.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b319/Ragnarok69/deskpen.jpg

 

Got it off ebat a while ago. Needs a sac and a new nib. It has an Osmiroid Italic Fine in it which is sharp as a razor and does not suit my handwriting at all.

 

Color is pretty funky, and definitly not correct but I really like it. It has a kindof tie dyed Grateful Dead look to it. The RCA Victrola symbols on it don't hurt neither.

 

Cheers,

SG